Mark Dantonio’s sudden decision to step down as the head coach at Michigan State took pretty much everyone by surprise. That includes his friend and colleague Tom Izzo.

On Tuesday, after learning the news that Dantonio had resigned, the Michigan State head basketball coach talked with Big Ten Network about Dantonio’s decision. The two are close friends and neighbors.

“He’s one of my favorite guys, but we’ve talked over the last week or so, you know, I mean I didn’t know what he was going to do until the very end, but it’s a sad day for me, if you want the truth,” Izzo said. “Happy, supposed to be a celebration of all the things he’s done here, but he and I have been through some wars. We’ve both been to a Final Four in the same year. Some really cool things. I think people are going to see all of his accomplishments are incredible.”

For a time, Dantonio and Izzo were considered to be the best football and basketball coach combination in the country. Both programs were consistently winning B1G titles and both were frequently in the championship conversation.

Izzo said that Dantonio took Michigan State to new heights during his 13 seasons in East Lansing.

“Everything he’s done, I think Michigan State is on the football map now. And I’m not sure we were there,” Izzo said. “When Nick Saban was here, we were growing to that point. And then when Mark took over, it’s just been…he’s done some things to get consistency.”

During his time at Michigan State, Dantonio led the Spartans to 12 bowl games, three B1G titles and a College Football Playoff appearance. He won 114 games as the head coach, the most for any football coach in program history.

Below is the full interview BTN conducted with Izzo: